Camp stove



p 9, 1939. w. w. HOELSCHER 2,173,166 I CAMP STOVE Filed Jan. 3, 1939 Walter ldboeicker WWW.

Patented Sept. 19,1939

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE team This invention relates to stove constructions, and more particularly to stoves of the demountable, portable type particularly adapted for camp use.

It is an obiect of the invention to provide a stove construction for camp use and the like of improved and simplified structure which can be readily assembled into operative position for use as a'heating unit, and which after use can be readily disassembled for transportation and stor- More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a demountable, portable camp stove l which can be assembled into and retained in effective or usable heating position merely by the proper assembly and lnterfitting of the parts, without the manipulation of screws or bolts or like adjunctive securing means; and which can be disassembled after use in like manner.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a stove construction of the type above set forth in which various kinds of cooking elements may be readily arranged and substituted in operative juxtaposition to the firebox; in which the construction provides an oven or warming chamber in addition to the primary cooking element; and in which the posititon of the firebox with respect to the cooking element or oven chamber may be varied as desired to impart different heating characteristics to the construction.

Still other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification when taken I in. connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred embodiment is illustrated.

In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a general assembly view of a camp stove construction embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view on a reduced scale, and

I including a different type of cooking element.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view, partly in section.

illustrating the construction shown in Fig. l.

, Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the several parts of the construction in disassembled relation.

The stove illustrated comprises a pair of end or leg members I and II adapted to rest at their lower edges upon the ground or other surface upon which the stove construction is to be supported. The leg members are of semi-cylindrical shape, and may conveniently be made of sheet metal. The upper edges of the leg members are adapted to receive and support the cooking element or pan i2 upon which the materials to be cooked or heated are adapted to be placed. As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, the pan I2 is provided with a peripherally extending bead ll adapted to receive and rest upon the upper edges of the leg members. The bead is U-shaped in 10 cross section, and when in position upon the supporting legs, holds the upper ends of the legs from movement either toward or away from each other.

The member I! thus cooperates with the grate member, later to be described, for holding the legs in assembled position. The pan is also provided with a pair of handles it by which it may be placed into and removed from supported position.

In Figs. 1 and 3 the cooking element i2 comprises a pan or the like which may be of sheet metal. In Fig. 2 a grille member I! is shown in supported position upon the construction. The pan i2 and the grille I! are interchangeable, and either may be used merely by placing it in supported position upon the leg members.

The leg members are provided with inwardly struck tabs or projections i6 and I! along each of the edges thereof, the projections II being arranged below the tabs 1 6 in predetermined spaced relation. These tabs are arranged to support a grate member i8, the grate member being provided with openings i9 into which the tabs project, as best shown in Fig. 4. The grate is adapted to support the wood, coal, or other fuel to be used in the stove construction, and is provided with a series of openings 20 for the admittance of air to the fuel bed. A pair of side plates 2| and 22 are supported upon the grate member, on either side thereof. These side plates extend between the leg members and are anchored thereto at each 0 end. The plates are provided with bent tabs or projections 23, 24 and "which grip the edges of the leg members. The upper and lower tabs 22 and 25 are struck inwardly so as to grip the inside surface of the leg members, whereas the central tab 24 is struck outwardly so as to come into gripping engagement with the outside surface of the leg members. Collectively the three tabs or pro- -jections form a firm interlocking connection with the legs. The tabs may be curved slightly to conform to the semi-cylindrical contour of the leg members, as may be best seen by reference to Fig. 4. The side plates are preferably perforated as indicated at 26 to facilitate the further admittance of air to the fuel upon the grate member.

The grate member I! with the side plates 2| and 22 forms the firebox.

To assemble the construction the leg members are first set up upon the ground or other surface of support, as indicated in Fig. 6. The grate member I8 is then assembled into position by causing the supporting tabs I. to be introduced into the openings I! in the grate. The side members 2| and 22 are then assembled into position by sliding them downwardly along the edges of the leg members, the projections 23, 24 and 25 being in gripping engagement with the edges of the leg members, and the sides coming to rest upon the top of the grate, as best shown in Fig. 5. The cooking element, whether it be the pan member shown in Figs. 1 and 3 or the grille member shown in Fig. 2, may then be placed in supported position upon the upper edges of the leg members, the fuel having been first arranged and ignited upon the grate member. The openings 2i! and 26 in the grate member and side plates supply the necessary air for combustion of the fuel. I

The cooking element i2 provides a primary heating position for the materials to be cooked or heated, and the space underneath the grate provides a secondary heating position or oven chamber, inasmuch as a portion of the heat from the firebox will be projected downwardly from the grate member toward the ground. The grate and the side plates can be mounted either upon the upper projections is or the lower projections I l as the occasion may require. When the firebox is supported by the lower projections the amount of heat which will be projected toward the oven chamber is increased and the heat which will be projected upwardly toward the cooking element I 2 will bereduced. When the grate and side plates are mounted upon the lower projections II, it will be noted that the upper tabs It will project inwardly between the two extensions 23 and 25 on the side plates, so that there will be no interference between the parts.

In assembling the firebox upon the lower tabs H,

the grate and side plates may be first mounted upon one of the leg members, for example the leg member i0, and thereafter the second leg member brought into assembled position.

After use, the parts may be readily disassembled ior transportation or storage purposes.- No special fastening devices are required, and there are no small parts which are likely to become misplaced or lost. When the parts are in assembled position, they reinforce each other forming a sturdy construction. The parts may all be made of sheet metal, or certain of them, for example the grate member l8, may be cast, if desired.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention set forth for purposes of illustration without depart ing from the spirit thereof. For example, various types of cooking elements, as may be desired, can be substituted for the elements It or 5. Also,

2. A stove construction comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical leg members arranged in spaced relation, a grate member, means for supporting the grate upon the leg members at an intermediate point thereon, said supporting means holding the leg members from separation from the a grate, and a cooking element supported upon the top of the leg members, and interlocking connections between the cooking element and the leg members for holding the tops of the leg members from relative movement toward or away from each other.

3. A stove construction comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical leg members arranged in spaced relation, tabs formed on said leg members along the edges thereof, a grate member, said grate member having openings through which the tabs are adapted to be projected whereby to support the grate member upon the leg members, and a cooking element adapted to be supported upon the top of the leg members, said cooldng element having a peripheral bead adapted to engage the upper edges of the leg members, the grate 'member and cooking element cooperating to hold the leg members in upright position.

4. A stove construction comprising a pair of sheet metal leg members arranged in spaced relation, tabs struck from said members along the edges thereof, a grate member supported on said tabs, side members arranged in either side of the grate and extending between the leg,members, said side members having projections adapted to grip the leg members on either side thereof, and a cooking element supported by the leg members adjacent the upper ends thereof.

5. A stove construction comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical leg members, tabs formed on said leg members along the edges thereof, a grate member, said grate member having openings formed therein through which the tabs are adapted to project whereby to support the grate on the leg members, side members adapted to be supported at each side of the grate member, said side members being adapted to extend between the leg members and having projections formed thereon adapted to grip either side of the leg members, and a cooking element supported by the leg members adjacent the upper ends thereof. WALTER W. HOE-30m. 

